"Quick question," Alex said once Bartholow stepped out of the dressing chamber wearing a white shirt and a pair of black trousers. "Did you wake up in this manor?"
"Yes, why?"
"Alone?"
"Unfortunately."
"Have you taken the ti out to learn about this manor?... Perhaps it might be able to give us so clues on who built it and why it isn’t being attacked by the monsters."
"Hmm, honestly never thought of that," Bartholow remarked. "I just saw this as my safe space."
Alex regarded the man, unsure if he should believe his words.
His experience with Thera reminded him that just because a person was being upfront about information didn’t an they were friendly.
They could just be doing it for the fun of it, or perhaps to lead them into danger, or as Thera did, distract them from what was truly important.
"I see," Alex muttered as he shifted his attention back to the map.
Pointing at a section on the map, he inquired. "What’s over here?... Why did you highlight more than the others?"
Bartholow replied. "I believe sothing is there, sothing important."
"Why?"
"Because it has the largest population of monsters compared to other locations. Also, there’s a huge cave opening in that direction."
"So you think this area could be the exit?"
"Sothing like that. Unfortunately, it’s not easy getting there and once you are there, you might as well kiss goodbye to leaving in one piece. I only survived because of my ability to regenerate."
"They tried to kill you?"
"Nearly did."
Alex pursed his lips.
If Bartholow was telling the truth, whatever was in that area was definitely important but then again, taking the risk only to end up losing sothing important in exchange for a wild goose chase would be foolish.
It was best to focus on investigating the house first.
"Thank you," Alex remarked as he handed the map back to Bartholow.
"Happy to help," Bartholow replied as he returned the parchnt to its spot in a drawer.
"Quick question," Alexander said.
"Hmm?"
"How do you eat?"
"You don’t want to know," Bartholow remarked with Alex furrowing his brows.
"He’s right, it’s best if you don’t know." Arwen chipped in from the side.
"I see," Alex muttered. "In that case, we’ll talk a bit more later on."
"Alright then," Bartholow remarked after which Alex and his cohorts took their leave.
Once out in the hallway, Alex remarked. "Anyone want to tell why I wouldn’t want to know what Bartholow eats?"
"He eats his flesh," Ana said, putting an abrupt end to Alex’s curiosity.
He froze before slowly glancing at Ana. "What?"
"His regeneration allows him to grow entire limbs, so whenever he’s hungry..."
"That’s enough," Alex said, putting an end to the conversation.
Ana shrugged. "You were the one who wanted to know despite the warnings."
"I know, I walked right into that one." Alex sighed while massaging his temples.
"So, I’m guessing you want us to investigate the manor," Elena remarked, thankfully helping to change the topic.
"Sothing like that."
"In truth, we had the sa idea but felt it might be rude to do so."
"I understand," Alex said. "Co on, we have a lot to do if we don’t want to be stuck here forever."
***
They found solace in a cave inhabited by Giant Ants, a mutant breed native to Henos.
After erasing the creatures, they made their way to its depths and killed the Ant Queen, effectively putting an end to the colony.
Only after they had done all this did they finally get the chance to rest and rest they did, as they collapsed to the ground, struggling to breathe like a fish out of water.
"Where exactly are we?" One of them, a man who seed to be in his late thirties, asked while lying against the wall. "Are we sure this is Veridia?... It looks nothing like it and what are these creatures?"
The one they called Gil, currently seated on the corpse of the Ant Queen with his spear beside him, lodged into the flesh of the Mutant, remarked. "This is indeed Veridia, however, it appears to be Veridia after the Flood."
"And you are certain of this?" The lady who had shown worry for Gil asked. "I an, how is it possible that after such a terrifying event, life would co to exist on Veridia once again?"
"This world is very different from the Veridia we know, Gil. I honestly cannot reconcile the two." Yet another spoke, the other man in the group of five.
"And I assure you that it is, trust ."
"We trusted you once, Gil, and for that we have suffered for more than five thousand years."
"Zirrat!"
"No, Ishtar." Gil quickly said. "She is right. I am the reason for our suffering, which is why I intend to put an end to it. If you do not trust , trust my desire to redeem myself."
The one nad Zirrat, hit with a slight bit of guilt, nodded in silence before turning away.
"So what now?... How do we ensure that this world is Veridia?"
"Not only that, there’s sothing more important to think about." The one nad Ishtar said. "Isn’t that right, Gil?"
"What is she talking about?" Zirrat asked.
Gil sighed. "This world is indeed Veridia, even though it now goes by the na Eventide. However, just as the world has changed, its rules have changed as well, and in its rules, we are not welco."
"Wait what?"
"That is the reason I had to hand you all the essence of individuals from this world. It serves as a mask to hide us from the laws of the world. But only for a ti. If we wish to remain in this new world, we need to find a way to change our existence to one that is acceptable to the laws of Eventide."
"And you didn’t deem it necessary to tell us sothing so important before now?" Zirrat scolded, with Gil responding.
"I needed to be certain."
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